Today’s Gazette reports: Developer to submit revised North Street plans Despite withdrawing an application to the Conservation Commission for a townhouse development in the North Street neighborhood, developer Douglas Kohl has not abandoned the controversial project and plans on submitting revised plans in May… The new plan the Planning Board preferred calls for 23 units […]
Video: Excerpt from the Conservation Commission Meeting of 3/26/09; Smith College Synthetic Playing Field; Tofino Withdrawal
Here is a Google video of the first hour and 12 minutes of the Conservation Commission meeting of 3/26/09. This video was recorded by Adam Cohen. The agenda items covered in the video include: Video time 0:02:25-1:10:03Continuation of a Notice of Intent filed by Smith College for the relocation of a tennis court, creation of […]
March 26 Planning Board Agenda: Zero Lot Line Development, Traffic Mitigation Payments, Hospital Hill
Here is the March 26 Planning Board agenda. Tofino Associates/Northern Avenue Homes/Kohl Construction is on it (8:00pm) but in the face of opposition to Tofino’s North Street condo proposal from some members of the Conservation Commission, Tofino withdrew its Notice of Intent (NOI) from the Department of Environmental Protection last week. Tofino is also still […]
Videos of City Council and School Committee Meetings Online at Northampton Community Television
We are glad to see that Northampton Community Television (NCTV) has begun to make video recordings of City Council and School Committee meetings available online on a regular basis. The City Council recordings date from February 5 (plus one from November 17). The School Committee recordings date from January 8. A feature we hope to […]
Video: Zero Lot Line Workshop, 3/17/09; Equity of Infill Distribution
Northampton’s Senior Land Use Planner/Permits Manager Carolyn Misch led a workshop on the proposed changes to the Zero Lot Line zoning regulations at Bridge Street School on 3/17/09. The goal of the changes is to facilitate infill by “[simplifying] Zero Lot Line Development to eliminate fences, reduce 30’ side setback to 15’, and allow lots […]
Video: Mayor Gives FY2010 Budget Briefing to Ward 3 on 3/16/09
Here is a complete Google video of a FY2010 budget briefing given by Mayor Clare Higgins to residents of Ward 3 on 3/16/09. The briefing took place in the Bridge Street School cafeteria. The video is 1 hour and 51 minutes long and was recorded by Adam Cohen. It is also available on Vimeo. Supporting […]
New York Times: “Electric Cars for All! (No, Really This Time)”
David Pogue’s March 19 column for The New York Times reports on Better Place, an innovative approach to electric cars. We have noted before how cars are popular due to their comfort, convenience and utility. Even if oil prices jump back over $100, urban planners should not assume that the car itself will begin to […]
March 26: Kohl Condo Proposal on Conservation Commission and Planning Board Agendas
Kohl Construction, doing business as Tofino Associates and Northern Avenue Homes, is scheduled to appear before the Conservation Commission and the Planning Board on March 26. These hearings may be short, as Kohl has indicated a desire to withdraw its current application for condos off North Street in the face of opposition from two members […]
Video: Planning Board Meeting of 3/12/09; Training Presentation for Planning Board Members
Here is a video of the 3/12/09 meeting of Northampton’s Planning Board. It is 1 hour and 38 minutes long. It was recorded by Lisa Maloney and is available on Vimeo. Here is the agenda of the meeting: Board Elections Sustainable Northampton Implementation (1:04:20-1:36:50 on the video. Discusses priority of various initiatives.) More training (0:00:00-0:38:20 on the […]
Video: Conservation Commission Meeting of 3/12/09; Deadlock on Kohl Condo Proposal
Here is a Google video of most of the Conservation Commission meeting of 3/12/09. Only the portion that followed the Kohl hearing was not recorded. This video is 3 hours and 59 minutes long, and was recorded by Adam Cohen. Thanks to Steve Hathaway for transcription assistance. The portion of the meeting devoted to the […]